Theme: Embrace

Mark your calendars for Friday, 30 May, as we hosts our fourth annual TEDxYouth event! This year’s line-up features ten inspiring speakers, including students(from secondary and primary), teachers, and a very special guest: China’s first female seafarer to cross the Arctic Ocean. And ALL talks with bilingual translation! The event promises a dynamic mix of talks, live musical performances, and interactive sustainability booths. Plus, enjoy refreshments and a fun TEDx-themed photo op! Let’s come together to celebrate ideas worth spreading—see you there!

HIBA Academy Shanghai (上海浦东新区民办惠立学校)
235 Linyao Road, Pudong New Area
Shanghai, Shanghai, 200126
China

Alisa Wang

G10 Pupil

Alisa Wang, a grade 10 student at Hiba Academy Shanghai, is a core member of the Hiba Mountaineers' Heritage Space and Chinese Opera Troupe. She has studied piano, erhu, and tea art from a young age. In 2022, she reached the national finals and won third prize for erhu at the Shanghai International Music Festival. In 2023, she performed ‘The Thirteen Grand Masters of Peking Opera’ at the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Alisa’s journey into traditional culture, especially Peking Opera and crosstalk, has given her a deep respect for the dedication behind these arts and a sense of responsibility to preserve them. Exploring the balance between tradition and modernity, she asks: "Must tradition and modernity be at odds?" and "What’s it like to stand at the intersection of heritage and innovation?" After her talk, you may want to give these ancient art forms a chance.

Andrew Perry

Educator, Director of Educational Technology, Wellington College China Hangzhou

Andrew Perry is Director of Educational Technology at Wellington College China Hangzhou, where he leads digital strategy across the campus. Having progressed from classroom teacher and Computing Lead to EdTech Coach, Andrew now contributes to the Wellington China group’s strategic EdTech committee, helping shape how technology supports teaching and learning across its schools. In his TEDx talk, Andrew invites the audience to rethink how children engage with digital devices—not as passive consumers, but as active creators. Drawing on personal stories and real classroom initiatives, he explores how screen time can become a platform for self-expression, innovation, and meaningful learning. Andrew values travelling to new places as a way to learn from different cultures and see the world through a broader lens. He believes in judging ideas by their impact and people by their actions—and that the right tools in the right hands can spark a generation of thinkers, makers, and change agents.

Brian Curd

Educator, Head of Teaching and Learning, HIBA Academy Shanghai

Brian Curd is an experienced educator and the current Assistant Head of Teaching and Learning at Hiba Academy Shanghai. With a background in both academic and pastoral leadership, Brian is a firm believer in the transformative power of teaching—not only to support student achievement but also to nurture student wellbeing and help young people move from merely surviving to truly thriving. In his talk, “Will AI replace teachers: Not if we acknowledge what students really need”, Brian takes an unexpected approach. If you are looking for a talk about technology and AI tips, you’ve come to the wrong place. Rather, he invites the audience to reflect more deeply on the purpose of education, the implications of artificial intelligence, and the enduring role of teachers in guiding students toward happiness and fulfilment.

Filipe Silva

G11 Pupil

Filipe Silva, a 16-year-old Brazilian, has lived in Sweden, China, and Brazil, attending international schools that fostered global connections. Navigating São Paulo, Stockholm, and Shanghai, he’s competed in Model UN debates in Sweden and China, won silver in China’s National Economics Challenge (top 10%), and qualified for the World Scholars Cup Tournament of Champions at Yale. As head boy, student council leader, and captain of both football and basketball teams, Filipe combines his passion for economics and cross-cultural dialogue to explore Gen Z’s challenges in a digital world. In his TED Talk, Filipe shares personal stories of adaptation and highlights Gen Z’s struggle with digital pressures and economic barriers. He urges audiences to see Gen Z not as victims, but as architects reclaiming humanity in an age of screens and subscriptions.

George Wei

G4 Pupil

George Wei is a fourth-grade student at HIBA Academy Shanghai and a passionate triathlete with over five years of training in swimming, running, and cycling. His dedication earned him a bronze medal at the 2023 National Triathlon U-Series Competition, and he proudly represented Pudong District in the 2024 Shanghai Student Games (Primary School Division) triathlon event. Beyond sports, George has a deep love for literature and musical theatre. By age 8, he scored 800 on the TOEFL Junior test, and by 9, he earned the French A2 language certification. His creative talents shine through his writing and performance — he has been named one of the Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award “Top Ten” and won first prize in both writing and speech at the ESDP Shanghai Competition. In 2024, George expanded his horizons as a model for NIKE Kids’ summer campaign and Kidswear at Shanghai Fashion Week. He is also a member of the Shanghai Earflying Children's Theatre Troupe.

Katherine Yu

G9 Pupil

The former Xian House Grade 8 House Representative and current Grade 9 Student Language Lead at HIBA Academy Shanghai, at the age of 12, she took the CATTI exam and became one of the youngest certified translators in China. In Harvard Business Pioneer Case Challenge 2024-2025 Global Finals that take placed in Boston, this 15-year-old leader led her team to Global Third Place Award. While being awarded the Outstanding Top 30% Individual as well. Advanced Open Water Diver certification at 13, she navigates both market analysis and coral reefs with equal mastery. Her December ritual? Conquering black diamond slopes across three continents. "Impossible is just I'm-possible spelled differently," says the Gen-Z girl who drafts poems on ski lifts and business models under sea waves. Whether analysing market trends or marine ecosystems, she proves that true expertise flows where logic meets imagination.

Maggie Wang

G8 Pupil

Maggie Wang is a Grade 8 student. She is a very talented and experienced public speaker. She has participated in multiple WSDA championships and has won 6th place, 2nd place, and 5th place awards consecutively. In January, she received her ESDP Public Speaking and Debating Special Certificate and a 1st place in NHDLC with her original oratory speech on the same topic of appearance anxiety. During these experiences, she met some of her best friends, learned how to express herself, how to show confidence, and how to use the power of language to influence others. She is also a passionate writer who takes pleasure in creative works. She has written short stories ranging from social issues, the environment and climate change to romance, horror, and fantasy stories. As a hobby, she has studied journalism, songwriting, and drama scriptwriting. In her talk, she hopes to inspire you with creativity and originality.

Matthew Wang

G8 Pupil

Matthew Wang is a grade 8 student, U15 basketball player, member of the charity department. He is also an experienced debater -- an HDC champion and best debater, and regular NHSDLC contestant and quarter-finalist. He is also super proud of his ninth-place ribbon at the Star of Hope Speech and Debate Competition. Preparing for a debate or a sports competition requires planning and determination, and success is never guaranteed. But when we devote our time and effort to the things we are passionate about, we learn to enjoy the process, the countless learning experiences, first and foremost. Matthew’s deep empathy for his friends and fellow teenagers has led him to explore the motivations and hidden meanings of adolescent behaviour with his talk at this year’s TEDxYouth event. In the process of engaging with his classmates and elders, he also gained rare insights into the challenges faced both by the youth of today and of the past.

Vivian Guo

G12 Pupil

As a senior at Huili School Shanghai, I founded and direct the Huili Charity Intangible Cultural Heritage Mountaineer Space and serve as student head coach of the Huili Model United Nations team. I’ve twice won "Best Delegate" at the University of Chicago MUN Asia-Pacific Conference and "Outstanding Delegate" at the University of Oxford’s MUN Asia-Pacific Conference. My leadership includes Head President of CISSMUN 2023, assistant director for WEMUN and Oxford MUN 2024, and Deputy President of SHAMUN 2024. With three years leading our school team, I also represented the charity project department at the 2024 Bo’ao Cultural Forum, earning the title "Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotion Ambassador." In this talk, I hope to share lessons on making choices, staying true to ourselves, and responding to doubt during the challenges of application season and life’s crossroads.